Shane Bieber, the Cleveland Guardians’ superstar pitcher and former American League Cy Young Award winner, has hit another roadblock in his journey back to the mound after Tommy John surgery. On the brink of progress, Bieber felt soreness in his surgically repaired elbow after a bullpen session.
This setback delays his return to the rotation. Fans and analysts are left wondering what’s next for one of MLB’s brightest pitching stars.
Let’s dig into Bieber’s recovery timeline, career highlights, and what this means for the Guardians as they move forward.
Shane Bieber’s Recovery Hits a Snag
The road back from Tommy John surgery is never easy, and Bieber’s finding that out firsthand. On Friday, he got scratched from his scheduled rehab start because of discomfort in his elbow, which doctors reconstructed earlier this year.
The soreness showed up after a bullpen session with the Guardians’ Double-A affiliate in Akron. As a precaution, Bieber will see the surgeon who did the procedure to figure out what’s going on and decide what to do next.
Setbacks like this aren’t rare, but this one definitely raises questions about whether he’ll be available for the rest of the 2025 season.
A Timeline of Bieber’s Recovery
Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2024 after just two games that season. The injury cut his campaign short, and early projections had him missing at least half of 2025.
He gave Guardians fans a spark of hope on May 31, 2025—his 30th birthday—when he made his first rehab start for the Arizona Complex League Guardians. He looked sharp, allowing just one hit and striking out five in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
That outing suggested Bieber might come back sooner than expected. But now, with this setback, his availability for the Guardians in the second half of 2025 feels pretty uncertain.
A Storied Career Worth Fighting For
If anyone’s got the grit to overcome adversity, it’s Shane Bieber. Since his 2018 debut, the right-hander has built an impressive resume.
- American League Cy Young Award Winner (2020): Bieber was the pinnacle of pitching excellence, posting a 1.63 ERA and leading MLB in strikeouts during the shortened season.
- Two-Time All-Star: His dynamic repertoire earned him spots in the Midsummer Classic in both 2019 and 2021.
- Career Record: Bieber’s 62-32 win-loss record and sparkling 3.22 ERA over 136 games put him among baseball’s elite pitchers.
His consistency and dominant performances have made him the ace of the Guardians’ staff. On top of that, his leadership presence is tough to replace—on the mound or in the clubhouse.
What This Means for the Guardians
As the Guardians navigate the 2025 season, Bieber’s health remains front and center. Even after adding to their rotation over the winter, his absence leaves a hole that’s hard to fill.
The team’s limited financial flexibility makes their reliance on homegrown talents like Bieber even more important. In December 2024, the Guardians showed their commitment by signing him to a one-year, $10 million deal with a 2026 player option worth $16 million and a $4 million buyout.
It’s a team-friendly contract for a pitcher of his caliber, but it also reflects how uncertain his recovery and near future really are.
The Highs and Lows of Post-Tommy John Careers
Bieber’s situation highlights just how unpredictable post-Tommy John recoveries can be. Some guys, like Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom, come back strong—sometimes even better than before.
Others struggle for months or never quite regain their old form. For Bieber, the next step is getting the green light from his surgeon and slowly building up his arm strength again.
Patience is going to be huge here. Rushing back too fast could put both his 2025 season and his long-term career at risk.
Final Thoughts
Guardians fans probably feel frustrated by this setback, but it’s not time to give up hope. Shane Bieber’s work ethic and determination are tough to match.
For now, Cleveland fans just have to wait for updates. Fingers crossed, he’ll be back on the mound when the moment’s right.
We’ll keep you posted on Bieber’s recovery and anything else happening around the MLB. The Guardians really need their ace, especially if they want to stay in the playoff race and prove they belong among the league’s contenders.
Here is the source article for this story: Guardians ace Bieber (elbow) suffers setback
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